‘Outright corruption’ of NDP government sparks local push By Michel Comte Contributing writer A group of North Shore taxpayers is urging Lt.-Gov. Garde Gardom to dissolve the provincial govern- ment this week. In a letter to his honour, Elizabeth James, Chairman of the Coalition for Accountable Government Expenditures (CAGE), asked to have the New Democratic Party thrown out of office for “incompetence, deceit, lies,” and “outright corruption.” The accusations were made Aug. 20, the same day Attorney-General Ujjal Dosanjh revealed that Glen Clark was under criminal investigation by the RCMP. Six months car- lier, Clark’s cast Vancouver home was raided by police as part of an investigation into the awarding of a casino licence to a firm pardy owned by Clark’s friend, Dimitrios Pilarinos. On Aug. 21, Glen Clark resized as pre- mier, but, James still wants more. James said Clark’s entire cabinet should share in his disgrace because CAGE main- tains the cabinet knew what was going on in the Casinogate affair before it became pub- lic and played key roles in other government blunders as far back as the 1996 pre-election budger. “It started with the lies during the 1996 election about the budget. The Caucus knew,” James said. Relying on a precedent sct by B.€.’s seventh licutenant-governor, Sir Henri Joly de Lotbiniere, who tossed then-premier Edward Gawler Prior and his government out of office in 1903 tor hav- ing interfered in a bidding process to win a government construction contract for his engincering company, the group feels strongly that it has a case. Constitutional lawyer and long-time government adviser Melvin Smith is not so sure. “That was a hundred years ago. The role of the ficutenant-governor has changed since then. It was more of a supervisory role of cabinet than it is today. I don’t thiak the Prior case has much relevance in the current context,” Smith said. “If the government of the day commands the sup- Former AGs deferid Dosanjh Katharine Hamer_ Contributing Writsv DON’T shoot the messenger. That’s what Allan Williams, West Vancouver councillor and former attorney general, has to say about the fingers currently being pointed at Ujjal Dosanjh. Since last weekend’s resignation by ex-Premier Glen Clark, accusations have come both from the press and NDP cabinet ministers that the arrorney general has “jet the side down” by announcing the criminal investigation of the premier. Ir has also been suggested thar Dosanjh was abusing his power for personal political gain when he informed the public that Clark’s alleged involvement with contractor Dimitrios Pilarinos had caused police concern. _ *The criticism focused on the AG over the last few days by colleagues like-Moe Sihota or Harry Lali only indicates their ignorance about his responsibilities and their own,” said Williams. After Clark stepped down, Sihota suggested that the pre- mier’s hand had been forced by Dosanjl.’s announcement. “Tt is the attorney general’s job to ensure that rhe govern- ment and each minister carries out his responsibilities in accor- dance with the law,” said Williams, who spent four years serv- ing as atzorney general between 1979-1983 in the Social Credit government. Williams said he thinks Dosanjh “quite properly spoke pri- vately to Clark” at first before making the criminal invesnga- tion public. : . “If T was to speculate, what he probably did was tell che pre- mier he had two choices,” said Williams. “He could have said, ‘you can go public, or you can step aside until the investigation is completed’ ” Bur Glen Clark did neither — a choice which ultimately led to his resignation. . Dosanjh told r.porters shordy after he announced the criminal investigation of Clark that he’d had “many sleepless nights” thinking about what had to be done. He was so concerned that he even considered resigning himself. . The criminal investigation into the premier was a secret Dosanjh had had to live with since March, when Clark’s house was searched by the RCMP. At. the time, the police told the atrorncy general that he See AG page § port of the legislature, then 1 don’t see chat there is sider dismissing it. I think that’s the constitutional position. As long as it has support of the major- ity of the house, that’s the key.” Herb LeRoy, private secretary to the lieutenant-governor, would not comment on the taxpay- er coalition’s request except to say that the office of the licutenant-governor is “apolitical.” “The lieutenant-governor is chaeged with defending democracy and the Constitution. Pact of that is defending the voting process. If ac any time a government hecomes unpopular, you have the choice to cast your vote at the next election a different way,” he said. “ dissolving the legislature it’s meant to be at the request of the government of the day.” Accused found not criminally liable for loss of lives Katharins Hamer Contributing Writer THE American woman who killed two teens in a car crash last year will walk away from two charges of dangerous dri- ving causing death. AB.C. Supreme Court judge ruled Thursday that an over-the-counter diet drug taken by Julia Campagna, 28, of Kirkland, Washington, had precipitated a “psychotic mental disorder” and that Campagna could not be held criminally responsible for her actions. Campagna rear-ended the vehicle of Monique Ishikawa, 19, and her friend Kimberly Brooks, 18, at the Peace Arch border crossing on May 30 last year. Brooks, of Port Coquitlam, and Ishikawa, of North Vancouver, dicd instantly. The two girls had been on a shopping trip co Seattle. Their natural gas-powered car burst into flames when it was struck by Campagna’s 1997 Pontiac Grand Prix at a speed of at least 85 km/h. The speed limit at the crossing was 30 km/h. Best friends for years, the girls were both well-liked. Ishikawa had recently graduated from Sutherland secondary school and was due to start classes at Capilano College in the fall. Campagna had been taking Xenedrine, a diet drug containing Ephedrine, for five days straight, stopping tour days before the accident. The drug is legally available in the U.S. Campagna has a family history of men- ne photo Ishixewa family BEST friends: Monique Ishikawa, right, and friena Kimberly Brooks. tal illness. At the time of the accident, she was suffering from a delusion that she was carrying NHL hockey player Joe Nicuwendyk’s baby. . Though Campagna and Nieuwendyk had never met, she said she heard his voice on her car radio, urging her to speed across the border. She thought that if she drove fast enough, she could fly. Ephedrine, which is derived from the Chinese herb Ephedra, is frequently used by athletes as a stimulant. It was one of the drugs taken by shamed hockey player Steve Vezina during the Pan Am Games last month. After being linked to incidences of strokes, heart attacks, and seizures, Ephedrine is under renewed assessment by the Amcrican Food and Drug CAGE chairman and North Shore resident Liz James says Glen Clark's entire cabinet should be forced to resign. cason for the lieutenant-governor to con- en we talk about leatins Administration. For individuals like Julia Campagna who are already predisposed towards mental illness, the drug can cause halluci- nations and psychotic episodes. Campagna was certified as psychotic after being examined by forensic psychia- trist Dr. LeeAnne Meldrum shortly after the accident. But during her trial, according to Monique’s father Cat Simril, Campagna was said to have suffered only temporary insanity. “They went out of their way to portray her as the sanest possible person,” he said. “The whole trial celebrated what a won- derful person she is. The fact that she killed two people is just a footnote to her whole glorious career.” Simril said he asked prosecutors last year if Campagna could be extradited for thal in the U.S. He was told that Campagna’s offence was “too minor.” “It’s hideous,” he said yesterday. “Ac one time we assumed the justice system would bring justice. That’s something we abandoned long agu.” Simril and his wife Fumiyo Ishikawa. will not be appealing the decision. “What would it accomplish?” he asked. However, the familics of other victims injured in the multi-vehicle accident intend to file a civil suit against Campagna. Campagna’s psychiatrist in the U.S. has not recommended any supervision for her — and she has already been given per- mission to drive again. “She's a serious threat to the people of Seattle,” said Simril. Last month, a plaque was set up at Peace Arch crossing in honour of the two girls. Monique’s family have also set up a Web site in her memory at . The site features voice record- ings and a photo gallery of Monique, as well as reminiscences from those who knew her.